Manchester United are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup despite an unconvincing display away at Blackburn Rovers.
Zlatan Ibrahimović scored the winning goal as United recovered from going behind to emerge as 2-1 victors.
Ibrahimović had been on the pitch for less than 15 minutes when he finished coolly past Jason Steele after being played in by fellow substitute Paul Pogba.
A first #EmiratesFACup goal for Zlatan, after a lovely ball over the top from @paulpogba… @ManUtd are in-front! https://t.co/M2YkaXFp2I
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 19, 2017
The victory earned United a huge quarter-final meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, giving José Mourinho a chance to get one over on his former club.
But it wasn’t all smiles for United fans, some of whom felt let down after an Old Trafford favourite was left on the bench at Ewood Park.
No, we’re not talking about Luke Shaw, though the England international was overlooked once again by Mourinho and didn’t make it onto the pitch.
United academy product Wes Brown was among the substitutes for Blackburn, having joined the club following his release by Sunderland.
Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Supporters were desperate to see him involved, even going as far as breaking into song.
https://twitter.com/KieranDaly_/status/833352086582603777
https://twitter.com/grassandfelines/status/833361928038862848
If Blackburn had still been ahead going into the closing stages, perhaps we’d have seen the treble-winner get some game-time.
But when you’re chasing a game, as Owen Coyle’s team were in the final quarter of an hour, a 37-year-old centre-back probably isn’t who you want bolstering your attack.
United fans may have been calling out for Brown, almost from the first whistle, but they were left disappointed.
@ManUtd No Wes Brown??
— Jeff Duarte (@JDStylz_) February 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/cricwit/status/833353738949627906
BRING IN Wes brown
— Dave. (@07mwas) February 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/Tr16ia/status/833380694009184259
And, perhaps inevitably, there were calls for Mourinho to bring the academy graduate back home.
https://twitter.com/AlynTucker/status/833362590092890112
Would take Wes Brown ahead of Darmain. The Italian is that horrible.
— 26. (@Temphiz) February 19, 2017
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